Hinge



p 1933- H. M. GASSTROM 1,926,091

HINGE Filed April 30, 1951 I Y%/% INVENZgdJS:

/y/fl M ATTORN EY Patented Sept. 12, 1933 UNTE i TENT OFFEE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to a hinge, and is in part a continuation of the invention described in my patent application for hinge connections, filed June 25, 1927, Serial Number 201,375, now

Patent No. 1,847,757, issued Mar. 1, 1932.

The object of the invention is the production of a hinge, adapted to connect the central and end members of the blade of a folding rule.

The second object of the invention is the production of a hinge with members having means to securely clamp them to the members of a rule without the use of any pins, and the like.

The third object of the invention is the production of a hinge, the members of which can easily be stamped or cut from strips of sheet metal.

The fourth object of the invention is the production of hinge members having ears with strengthening ridges.

In the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 represents a plan view of an exemplification of a strip of thin sheet metal, in this instance of sheet steel, indicating the different steps, to form the male member of the hinge; Fig. 2 shows a plan View of a similar strip of thin sheet metal, indicating the difierent steps to form the female member of the hinge; Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary portion of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 indicates a section of Fig. 3 on the line 4, 4; Fig. 5 is a section of Fig. 3 on the line 5, 5; Fig. 6 shows an enlarged fragmentary portion of Fig. 2; Fig. 7 shows a section of Fig. 6 on the line 7, 7; Fig. 8 is a section of Fig. 6 on the line 8, 8; Fig. 9 represents a plan view of the members of the hinge connected to 35 the members of the blade of a folding rule, the members of the blade being in their extended or open position; Fig. 10 shows a front view of Fig. 9; Fig. 11 indicates a front view of the members of the rule and hinge in their closed or folded position; Fig. 12 is a section of Fig. 9 on the line l2, 12; Fig. 13 represents a section of Fig. 9 on the line 13, 13; and Fig. 14 shows a section of Fig. 9 on the line 14, 14.

Referring to Fig. 1, a thin strip of sheet metal, 45 which may be of steel, brass or other suitable material is indicated in its entirety by the numeral 20, and is shown with various configurations resulting from the various operations in the course of the manufacture of the male menu-- ber M of the hinge.

The openings 21 are made in the strip 20, for

- the purpose of holding it in place when it is cut or stamped.

The first step in the production of the male member M of the hinge is the formation of the openings 24, and the tapered projections 53. The second step forms the cut 28 for the ear 36. The third step forms the upwardly extending strengthening ridges 32, and the depression 33. The fourth step produces the markings 34. The fifth step produces the perforations 36 with the tubular projections 37, and the clamping flanges 52. The sixth step depresses the ear 30, forms the eye 38 adjacent to the front edge of the body portion 44, and bends down the side flanges 50. The seventh step cuts away the portions of the strip 20 of sheet metal on the sides of the male member M of the hinge. The eighth step consists in cutting the male member M from the strip 20 of sheet metal, on a line 39 which produces the said male member as indicated in Figs.

3, 4 and 5.

Referring to said Figures 3, 4 and 5 the male member M of the hinge is indicated to comprise the body portion 44, having the straight rear edge 45, the front edge 46 having the indentations 47 and the marking 34 of the scale for the folding rule. The side edges of the body portion 44 are indicated at 48. The perforations 36 with their tubular projections 37 extending downwardly from the lower face of the body portion 44, function to maintain the male member M in proper position on the accompanying member of the rule to be described. From the sides of the body portion 44 incline downwardly the side flanges 50 having the indentations 51 in their front edges, and the clamping flanges 52 at right angles to the flanges 50. Tapered projections 53 extend from the flanges 52, in the same plane therewith. The ear 30 with its strengthening ridges 32 extends from the front end of the body portion 44.

Referring to Fig. 2 a strip of sheet metal similar to 20 is indicated in its entirety by the numeral 60, and from which is produced the female 9 member F of the hinge. The openings 61 are formed in the strip 60, for the purpose of holding it in place when it is cut to form the said female member.

The first step in the production of the member F, is the formation of the two openings 64 and the tapered projections 93. The second step forms the cut 68 for the cars 70. The third step forms the upwardly extending strengthening ridges 72, with the ends 73 or the ears somewhat bent up. The fourth step produces the marking 74. The fifth step produces the perforations 77, with their tubular projections 78 and the clamping flanges 92. The sixth step depresses the ears 70 to form the eyes 79 and bends the side flanges 90. The seventh step cuts away the portions of the strip 60 on the sides of the female member F of the hinge. The eighth step consists in cutting the female member from the strip 60 on a line 80, 80, which produces the said female member F as indicated in Figs. 6, '7 and 8.

Referring to said Figs. 6, '7 and 8, the said female member F, is indicated to comprise the body portion 84 having the straight rear edge 85, the curved front edge 86, having the indentations 87, and the marking '74 of the scale of the folding rule. The side edges of the body portion 84 are indicated at 88. The perforations '77 having the tubular projections '78, are formed in the body portion 84, to maintain the female member F in proper position on the accompanying face of the folding rule. From the sides of the body portion 84 incline downwardly the side flanges 90, having the indentations 91 at their front ends. The side flanges have formed at right angles thereto with the clamping flanges 92 with the tapered projections 93. The ears '70, with their strengthening ridges '72, extend from the front end of the body portion 84.

Referring to Figs. 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14, the central member of the folding rule is indicated at 95, with inner faces 96, and the side faces 97. The outer member of the folding rule is indicated at 100 with the inner face 101 and the side faces 102.

The body portion 44, of the male member M of the hinge is seated upon the inner face 96 of the member 95. The projections 37 of the perforations 36 are forced into said member of the rule. The car 30 extends around the pin 105 of the hinge and is brought to bear up against the lower face of the body portion 44. The eye 38 is seated on the pin 105. The side faces 97 of the member 95 have the cut-away portions 106, to fold the flanges 50 therein, and the clamping flanges 52 with their projections 53 are pressed into the sides of the member 95.

The body portion 84 of the female member F of the hinge, is seated upon the inner face 101 of the member of the folding rule, the projections '78 of the perforations being forced into the said member 100 of the rule. The ears '70 extend around the pin 105, with the eyes '79 seated on said pin. The ears '70 are then brought up to bear against the lower face of the body portion 84. The side faces 102 of the member 100 have cut-away portions 108 and the flanges 90 are brought to bear in said cut-away portions, with the clamping flanges 92 and their tapered projections 93 pressed into the sides of the member 100. It will be noted that the ears '70 straddle the ear 30.

When the body portion 44 is seated upon the face 96, a portion of said face has been previously cut away, to provide clearance for the ear 30, and likewise when the body portion 84 is seated upon the face 101, a portion of said face 101, has been previously cut away to provide clearance for the ears '70. 1

Various modifications may be made in the invention and the present exemplification is to be taken as illustrative and not limitative thereof.

Having described my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent and claim is:

1. In a hinge the combination of a male member, comprising a body portion, having a front ,edge, a rear edge and side edges, side flanges extending downwardly from the side edges of said body portion,'clamping flanges extending from said side flanges, and an ear extending from the front edge of said body portion, said ear curved to form an eye and its end portion positioned to bear against the lower face of said body portion.

2. In a hinge the combination of a female member comprising a body portion having a front edge, a rear edge and side edges, side flanges extending downwardly from said side edges, clamping flanges extending from said side flanges and a pair of ears extending from the front edge of said body portion, each of said ears curved to form an eye and its end portion positioned to bear against the lower face of said body portion.

3. In a hinge the combination of a male member, comprising a body portion, having a front edge, a rear edge and side edges, tubular projections extending from the lower face of said body portion, side flanges extending downwardly from the side edges of said body portion, clamping flanges extending from the said side flanges and at right angles thereto, tapered projections extending from said clamping flanges, an ear extending from the front edge of said body portion, strengthening ridges formed with said ear and an eye formed with said ear adjacent to the front edge of the said body portion, the end portion of said ear positioned adjacent to the lower face of said body portion.

4. In a hinge the combination of a female member comprising a body portion, having a front edge, a rear edge and side edges, tubular projections extending from the lower face of said body portion, side flanges extending downwardly from the sides of said body .portion, clamping flanges extending from the said side flanges and at right angles thereto, tapered projections extending from said clamping flanges, a pair of ears extending from the front edge of said body portion, a strengthening ridge formed with each of said ears, and an eye formed with each of said ears adjacent to the front edge of said body portion, the end portion of each ear positioned adjacent to the lower face of said body portion.

5. In a hinge the combination of a male member, comprising a body portion, having a front edge, a rear edge and side edges, side flanges extending from said side edges to clamp the male member to the member of a rule, an ear extending from the front edge of the body portion of the male member, upwardly extending strengthening ridges formed with said ear, an eye formed with said ear, adjacent to the front edge of said body portion, a female member for said hinge, said female member comprising a body portion, having a front edge, a rear edge and side edges, side flanges extending from the side edges of the body portion of the female member, to clamp the latter member to the accompanying member of the rule, a pair of ears extending from the front edge of the body portion of the female member, the latter ears positioned to straddle the ear of the male member, an upwardly extending strengthening ridge formed with each of the pair of ears, an eye formed with each of the pair of ears adjacent to the front edge of the body portion of the female member and a pin extending through the eyes of the male and female member.

' 6. In a hinge the combination of a male member, comprising a body portion, having a front edge, a rear edge and side edges, side flanges integral with said body portion and extending of the female member, the latter flanges adapted to clamp said female member to the accompanying member of said rule, a pair of ears extending from the front edge of the body portion of said female member, the latter ears positioned to straddle the ear of said male member, and a pin to connect said male and female members, said ears extending around said pin to form eyes.

HERMAN M. GASSTROM. 

